American Idol host Ryan Seacrest put it best himself on last night’s show: “Idol history has been made!”

Matt Giraud — a 23-year-old piano player from Kalamazoo, Mich. — was voted off the show by fans for his rendition of Bryan Adam’s “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?”

But the judges shocked all when they decided to use their one-time power to save him from elimination.

According to a show attendee, Giraud shed a few tears when he was told he would remain on the show, as the other contestants sprinted across the stage to hug him and congratulate him.

Contestant Adam Lambert was the first to give him a hug, with Kris Allen following it up with a few hugs himself. Giraud seemed pretty “overwhelmed and emotional,” the attendee tells Usmagazine.com.

What does this mean for the show next week?

Two finalists will be dismissed after performing disco-themed numbers.

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Following a rousing group performance of the Journey classic—was that Danny Gokey or Steve Perry out there?—another American Idol hopeful had to go, bringing the number of aspiring hitmakers down to eight.

In a tiny bit of twist, no contestant knew—for sure, that is—if he or she was safe until the second half hour of the show.

And in a bigger twist, Simon Cowell let tonight’s castoff know in no uncertain terms that her swansong was going to be her final solo performance on the Idol stage.

Sure enough, after doing her best bird impression by flapping her wings and squawking to the side when informed she was in the bottom three, Megan Joy’s encore of “Turn Your Lights Down Low” was it for her.

“Megan, with the greatest respect, when you said that you don’t care—nor do we,” Simon told her before she sang. “So I’m not going to pretend that we’re even going to contemplate saving you.”

Her dismissal wasn’t a shock, though. (more…)

Paula Abdul denies dissing new American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi.

The tabloid OK! claims that Abdul said the Fox show “doesn’t work” with four judges. DioGuardi later fired back, saying she was “hurt” by the criticism.

But before Wednesday’s Idol show, Abdul changed her tune, telling Entertainment Tonight that her comments were “taken completely out of context.”

“I was actually referring specifically to the use of ‘guest judges’ in seasons past, not Kara [DioGuardi] or this season,” she said. “I am thrilled to have her by my side each week on American Idol.”

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American Idol contestant Joanna Pacitti — who advanced to the top 36 — has been disqualified, a show rep announced Thursday.

“It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition,” stated a Fox press release.

It has been suggested that Pacitti had a close relationship with a pair of executives from 19 Entertainment, the company that produces Idol.

Pacitti will be replaced by Felicia Barton.

The 23-year-old Pacitti — who belted Pat Benatar’s “We Belong” during her audition in Louisville, Ky. — moved to L.A. at 16 after signing a deal with A&M Records.

She has also been featured on some soundtracks to Legally Blonde and First Daughter.

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In Touch has confirmed the once fairy-tale romance of American Idol stars Kimberly Caldwell and David Cook is kaput. A rep for Kimberly confirms, “Kimberly and David ended their relationship just before the holidays. The couple remain good friends and being very private people, appreciate their privacy at this time.”

VIDEO ABOVE IS PAULA GOODSPEED ON SEASON 5 OF AMERICAN IDOL.  So sad.

A car with a dead woman inside found parked outside Paula Abdul’s house in Los Angeles on Tuesday night is registered to Paula Goodspeed, a former American Idol contestant and self-described “really big fan” of Abdul.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the woman – an apparent suicide victim – but suggested she was an infatuated fan of Abdul.

The woman’s car featured a license plate “ABL LV” and had a photo of Abdul hanging from the rear view mirror, according to Fox News video taken at the scene. A DMV check of the license showed that the car was registered to Goodspeed, 30.

“This has been ruled an apparent suicide,” said LAPD officer April Harding, “and the coroner’s office is now investigating. The body was found around 6 p.m. Tuesday.”

Abdul was at the studio at the time the body was found and wasn’t aware of it until she was told by the network, her rep says.

Abdul Expresses Shock

“I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday,” Abdul said in a statement. “My heart and prayers go out to her family.”

Los Angeles station KTLA quoted police Capt. Jim Miller as saying the woman had an infatuation with the American Idol judge.

Goodspeed’s Idol audition was prominently featured by the show, and in her interview with host Ryan Seacrest, she clearly expressed her affection for Abdul.

“I really like Paula Abdul a lot. She’s really cool,” said Goodspeed when asked about her inspiration during the Idol audition process. “I’m a really big fan, and I made life-sized drawings of Paula. I’ve been drawing ever since I was a little kid, and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul.”

Goodspeed Panned by Judges

But after singing her rendition of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” the woman was roundly panned by the show’s judges.

“It was terrible, what was that?” said Randy Jackson. In addition, Simon Cowell made disparaging remarks about her braces: “I don’t know how you can sing with all that metal in your mouth.”

Abdul, who lit up when Goodspeed said her name was Paula, said, “Speechless, don’t know what to say” after hearing the song.

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Look at all these gorgeous women!  Pictured above & below:  Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Amber Tamblyn, Angie Harmon, Anne Hathaway, Chelsea Handler, Chris Evans, Courteney Cox, Eva Mendes, Isla Fisher, Jennie Garth, Jenny McCarthy, Kate Beckinsale, Katherine McPhee, Nicolette Sheridan & Sheryl Crow!

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